Smithfield, RI – According to The Wall Street Journal, in collaboration with College Pulse and Statista, Bryant University is among the best 5 percent of higher education institutions in the nation. The highly anticipated “America’s Best Colleges” 2025 rankings, published September 4, mark a significant achievement for Bryant, which rose an impressive 37 places, from last year’s 111th position to 74th this year.
The result of a comprehensive analysis, the rankings are based on a combination of student and alumni feedback and outcome metrics, including earning potential, student debt levels, and the cost of attendance.
“These rankings from The Wall Street Journal are a testament to Bryant’s unwavering commitment to academic excellence, experiential learning, and the value of a higher education investment,” says President Ross Gittell, Ph.D. “Our university’s reputation is built on delivering strong outcomes, and we are proud to provide an education that equips our students to thrive in a rapidly changing world.”
According to a recent analysis, 99 percent of Bryant’s Class of 2023 secured jobs or graduate school placements within six months post-Commencement. The median starting salary for the Class of 2023 is $72,500 per year, the highest on record.
Alexandra Fluegel ’23, an International Business major who concentrated in Global Supply Chain Management, says her coursework and faculty mentorship at Bryant aided in her transition from undergraduate studies to a career as a senior analyst at Dell Technologies. Deeming the university “results-focused," Fluegel says her practicum courses, where she worked with real companies to address real global challenges, gave her the grounding to excel in the workplace.
"The professors encourage students to gain hands-on experience during my time here, and they make sure the classroom materials they teach relate to the real world," she says. "Those experiences prepared me for my role at Dell and helped me increase how quickly I can grasp new concepts in the workplace."
The Class of 2024 has also experienced the early benefits of a Bryant education, including Chris Rota ’24, who now works at Gray, Gray & Gray, LLP, a private accounting firm in Canton, Massachusetts.
“A lot of my classes, office hours, past internships, group projects, and getting to know my professors got me here today,” Rota says.
Classmate and Actuarial Mathematics major Allison Tessman ’24, who earned a position as an actuarial analyst for The Hartford, says the support from faculty, staff, and friends contributed to her success.
"Everybody is part of one big community at Bryant,” she says.
This recognition from The Wall Street Journal follows closely on the heels of Bryant’s strong performance in the Princeton Review and Forbes. The Princeton Review named Bryant as one of the best schools in the Northeast and a top “Green” school in the nation and placed the university in the top 25 in three national categories: Best College Library, Most Active Student Government, and Students Love Their School Teams. Forbes named Bryant one of the top schools in the nation in its 2025 “Best Colleges” list.
Bryant University’s consistent recognition in national rankings underscores its dedication to providing students with a top-tier education that leads to successful careers and fulfilling lives.
About Bryant University
For more than 160 years, Bryant University has been at the forefront of delivering an exceptional education that anticipates the future and prepares students to be innovative leaders of character in a changing world. The university delivers a uniquely integrated academic and student life experience with nationally recognized academic programs at the intersection of business, liberal arts, and health and behavioral sciences.
Located on a 465-acre contemporary campus in Smithfield, R.I., Bryant enrolls approximately 3,800 undergraduate and graduate students from 38 states and 49 countries. Bryant is recognized as a top 1% national leader in student education outcomes and regularly receives high rankings from U.S. News and World Report, Money, Bloomberg Businessweek, Wall Street Journal, College Factual, and Barron’s. Bryant.edu
The Vision 2030 strategic plan sets an exciting trajectory for Bryant University, an institution committed to transformational learning experiences, exceptional outcomes, and developing passionate, purpose-driven leaders. Vision 2030 priorities include an ecosystem of academic excellence, vibrant student life, community and belonging, and economic mobility for all. Vision2030. Bryant.edu
